PUNE: The Pune rural administration has enforced strict regulations on aerial filming, making prior police clearance mandatory for drone operations across the district. Additional District Magistrate Jyoti Kadam issued the prohibitory orders, mandating that any private individual, event management agency, or commercial photographer must submit a formal notification to the local police station at least seven days in advance to secure permission before deploying a drone camera.
The administrative action follows growing security apprehensions across the region. Authorities highlighted that Pune district hosts vital religious sites, major dams, and critical central installations that could be vulnerable to reconnaissance by subversive elements. The directive specifically notes that numerous complaints regarding unidentified drones operating at night have generated public panic in areas such as Daund, Baramati, and Shirur. Furthermore, investigators suspect that criminal networks, including sand mafia syndicates and burglars, might exploit aerial surveillance to monitor target zones.
In light of these security challenges, the order bans the unauthorized use of drones, remote-controlled micro-light aircraft, paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, hot air balloons, and all comparable aerial apparatuses.
The administration warned that strict legal consequences await violators. Any individual found operating a drone camera or aerial equipment without obtaining prior official permission from law enforcement will be held liable for prosecution under Section 233 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
